It's a concept Youngstown officials have been working to implement for years.

Flock cameras are used to detect crime and help solve cases and will now be scattered throughout the city. Council also voted to put the breaks on recreational marijuana dispensaries coming into town.  This, as worry continues about potential theft happening at the Realty Building, as demolition continues. 

Youngstown council voted in favor of putting $200k towards flock security cameras around town. Thousands of police departments around the country actively use the technology. They work by reading license plates while storing a database of vehicle information.

American Rescue Plan funding from Julius Oliver's, Mike Ray's, and Patrick Kelly's wards will be used to pay for the cameras. 

Councilman Jimmy Hughes was reluctant to spend American Rescue dollars on the cameras, but ultimately voted in favor. Councilwoman Anita Davis is more concerned over the security issue, being the sole council member to vote down the cameras. 

"It catches everyone," she explained. "Not just a perpetrator, but every single person. Only law enforcement can have access to that information but too often that's where some of the problems lie."

People living in Youngstown will also have to wait until next summer to potentially see a recreational marijuana dispensary in town. The council needs more time to review its pros and cons, a similar reaction we've seen in surrounding communities like Austintown. The council voted in favor of a moratorium on adult-use dispensaries in the city until May 1, 2025. 

"We need to take a good, solid look at it so we can see how it will play our at just one location," Davis added. "We need to observe how one spot works before we add them throughout other areas of the community."

As the demolition continues at the Realty Building, Councilman Julius Oliver said during Monday's meeting he is concerned over the theft issues he's heard coming from the Realty Apartments.

One woman told the councilman she was able to track her Macbook being taken off the premises. The police department is encouraging potential victims to file a police report, but the city explained since the demolition contract has been awarded to the company overseeing the work, they are able to remove whatever they choose.

"We need to show respect for people's personal belongings during this time," Councilman Mike Ray said. "That is disgusting hearing this is happening."

Councilwoman Davis publically requested for Mayor Tito Brown to look into the ongoing alleged crimes happening at the demolition site.

YPD confirmed an investigation is ongoing into the Realty Building thefts. 

The city is also looking into purchasing three 2025 Dodge Durango police cruisers, costing over $180k. That ordinance was sent to the safety committee for further review and was not passed on Monday.   

The next Special Council Meeting is scheduled for August 28.